Andy Greene should be offered as bait, the Devils have enough structure to overcome his loss, in concert with the caliber of d prospects they have.

Greene and Matteau for JVR and a 2nd.

With that trade Zajac becomes Zajac again, and when Jagr eventually he retires (assuming he will re-sign) Henrique can slide in and take his place on the top line. It would give the Devils a formidable young first line core, and free up space for the young dmen.

As for the 3rd line costing 12 million a year, what does that have to do with anything?

If you understand there's this thing called a salary cap and it's not good allocation of salary having that much money tied up in a 3rd line....well, i don't really know what to tell you more then that. That's how mediocre teams stay mediocre.

If you think Bryce Salvador, is the ruination of the Devils you need to watch more hockey.

If you understand there's this thing called a salary cap and it's not good allocation of salary having that much money tied up in a 3rd line....well, i don't really know what to tell you more then that. That's how mediocre teams stay mediocre.

Play with capgeek that roster would have the Devils under the cap by 8 million dollars.

If you think Bryce Salvador, is the ruination of the Devils you need to watch more hockey.

Play with capgeek that roster would have the Devils under the cap by 8 million dollars.

I don't care how much they're under. It's not a good allocation of salary and in a cap system, under or not, you don't go throwing 12+ million to a 3rd line. And it's only 12 million because you've got Ruutu's salary picked up by Carolina. You take all their full salaries together and you've got 14 million in a 3rd line, You'll have Elias making 5.5 million on a 3rd line, alone. It's not smart and when you're in the situation the Devils are in it's just plain stupid. Unfortunately, this team probably has those three players primed for this spot in some way or another and yet were wondering why were stuck in mediocrity.

Would you rather Ryane Clowe be a top 6 forward, or like Clarkson during our successful run to the finals play a complimentary role as a 3rd line forward with power play duty? Answer seems pretty apparent to me.

Also Ruutu's cap hit is gone after next year, so your fears of a 12 million dollar 3rd line are not long term, but are called for in an effort to give the likes of Reid Boucher more time to develop.

Frankly it is idiotic that you poo-poo what could be one of the deepest rosters in the East because the 3rd line cost 12 million dollars. Do you realize the matchup advantages the Devils would have against 95 percent of the league?

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Would you rather Ryane Clowe be a top 6 forward, or like Clarkson during our successful run to the finals play a complimentary role as a 3rd line forward with power play duty? Answer seems pretty apparent to me.

Also Ruutu's cap hit is gone after next year, so your fears of a 12 million dollar 3rd line are not long term, but are called for in an effort to give the likes of Reid Boucher more time to develop.

Frankly it is idiotic that you poo-poo what could be one of the deepest rosters in the East because the 3rd line cost 12 million dollars. Do you realize the matchup advantages the Devils would have against 95 percent of the league?

Ryane Clowe is paid to be a top 6 forward. Not a 3rd liner.

Ruutu is a 3rd liner. His linemates, Elias and Clowe aren't. Although this is probably their final resting place somewhere down the line due to age and injury. You've got to figure Elias won't take a 3rd line demotion easy, either.

It's not idiotic. It's idiotic that you have no clue that 14 million worth of "real" salary is sitting on a 3rd line on a team that has no 1st or second line depth other then two fantasy acquisitions. Even if those fantasies are reality, Brunner isn't a 2nd line winger. Elias and Clowe are, if healthy and still productive (although the lack of speed scares me). If they aren't, this team is in deep sh!t.

Ruutu is a 3rd liner. His linemates, Elias and Clowe aren't. Although this is probably their final resting place somewhere down the line due to age and injury which you can then look at as why Clowe was given his deal (if you aren't already). You've got to figure Elias won't take a 3rd line demotion easy, either.

It's not idiotic. It's idiotic that you have no clue that 14 million worth of "real" salary is sitting on a 3rd line on a team that has no 1st or second line depth. That's idiotic.

Just because a player is paid a certain amount of cash does that mean he deserves that role. Clowe is best served a 3rd line forward despite what his cap hit is. The Idea that the Devils do not have any first or second line depth as that roster is constructed is ludicrous. Jagr, Zajac, JVR, Henrique, Stastny, and Brunner aren't top 6 players?

James Van Riemsdyk is an amazing talent who would fit the Devils system like a glove.

Ruutu is a 3rd liner. His linemates, Elias and Clowe aren't. Although this is probably their final resting place somewhere down the line due to age and injury. You've got to figure Elias won't take a 3rd line demotion easy, either.

It's not idiotic. It's idiotic that you have no clue that 14 million worth of "real" salary is sitting on a 3rd line on a team that has no 1st or second line depth other then two fantasy acquisitions. Even if those fantasies are reality, Brunner isn't a 2nd line winger. Elias and Clowe are, if healthy and still productive (although the lack of speed scares me). If they aren't, this team is in deep sh!t.

What moves could the Devils plausibly make that having expensive third liners prevents them from doing? Ruutu's cap hit to the Devils is basically the league average.

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I think it's definitely a little ridiculous to have 14m sitting on the third line when the team lacks any real top-end talent. It's money sunk that would best be spent elsewhere..like on a 1st line player.

Of the Devils top-6 (and other scorers) this season..

Elias: 1W/2W

Zajac: 2C on a good team

Jagr: 2W on a good team

Henrique: 2C

Brunner: 3W (at best)

Ruutu: 3W

Clowe: 3W on a good team

Ryder: 3W, although I'd honestly argue he's less useful than that even

Zubrus: 3W at best

I mean..wow. That's a pretty bad forward roster. Jagr definitely overachieved this year which helped tremendously..unfortunately his contributions were kind of wiped out by Brunner and Ryder.

There's not a bona-fide first line player on this year's roster. Wasting so much money on bottom-6 players like you're suggesting would be foolish.

What moves could the Devils plausibly make that having expensive third liners prevents them from doing? Ruutu's cap hit to the Devils is basically the league average.

It's terrible allocation of salary and this is what turns teams mediocre. It's where it's going to come back and bite Lamoriello. You've got 14 million tied up in a 3rd line and something like 12 and change paid out. But as i said, the way this roster looks to be constructed with deals they're probably stuck with this at some point. If they get two top 6 forwards, it'll speed this process up. Elias and Clowe are paid to be top-6 forwards.

I think it's definitely a little ridiculous to have 14m sitting on the third line when the team lacks any real top-end talent. It's money sunk that would best be spent elsewhere..like on a 1st line player.

Of the Devils top-6 (and other scorers) this season..

Elias: 1W/2W

Zajac: 2C on a good team

Jagr: 2W on a good team

Henrique: 2C

Brunner: 3W (at best)

Ruutu: 3W

Clowe: 3W on a good team

Ryder: 3W, although I'd honestly argue he's less useful than that even

Zubrus: 3W at best

I mean..wow. That's a pretty bad forward roster. Jagr definitely overachieved this year which helped tremendously..unfortunately his contributions were kind of wiped out by Brunner and Ryder.

There's not a bona-fide first line player on this year's roster. Wasting so much money on bottom-6 players like you're suggesting would be foolish.

I think it's definitely a little ridiculous to have 14m sitting on the third line when the team lacks any real top-end talent. It's money sunk that would best be spent elsewhere..like on a 1st line player.

Of the Devils top-6 (and other scorers) this season..

Elias: 1W/2W

Zajac: 2C on a good team

Jagr: 2W on a good team

Henrique: 2C

Brunner: 3W (at best)

Ruutu: 3W

Clowe: 3W on a good team

Ryder: 3W, although I'd honestly argue he's less useful than that even

Zubrus: 3W at best

I mean..wow. That's a pretty bad forward roster. Jagr definitely overachieved this year which helped tremendously..unfortunately his contributions were kind of wiped out by Brunner and Ryder.

There's not a bona-fide first line player on this year's roster. Wasting so much money on bottom-6 players like you're suggesting would be foolish.

Again, what first line player is sitting out there that the Devils are prevented from getting because of overpaid third liners? This team has plenty of cap space, and a good, and relatively inexpensive defense, that will only get cheaper as the younger players get phased in.

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What moves could the Devils plausibly make that having expensive third liners prevents them from doing? Ruutu's cap hit to the Devils is basically the league average.

Yeah, this. It certainly is one of the luxuries of having a cheap, cost controlled, efficient defense the next few years. I don't understand the argument against it. Just because they make good money means they have to play in a role over their heads? Elias - Ruutu - Clowe would be a damn good third line. Who is that stopping us from signing?

I don't think Toronto would bite on that deal, but that is a damn fine idea.